DHAKA: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan said a new air route will be opened soon with Myanmar and Guwahati of Assam, India.

The minister made the disclosure while a delegate team of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) met with him at his secretariat on Tuesday.
The new two air routes will play a great role in economy, Faruk expressed hope.

Cargo facilities will be added with the aircraft to export goods within the shortest possible time, the minister said.

The BGMEA team placed four-point demands to the minister. They are -setting up a new shade for the security of export goods and a separate immigration desk, increasing manpower and preventing the stealing of goods at the airport.

The minister assured of taking necessary measures in this regard, sources said.

In the meantime, automatic scanning machines have been set up at the cargo village of the airport to release the goods without any delay, said Faruk adding customs and banking system have been introduced seven days a week in the airport to speed up the goods’ delivery.

Chiller unit and new shade will be set up soon at the cargo village for the vegetable exporters, the minister informed.

Approval to Private Airlines to Fly Abroad
The Government has not given approval to the domestic private airlines to fly abroad on the rights of Air India. A statement showing the details of traffic rights granted to private airlines to fly abroad is given below:-

Operation of any airlines is based on its own assessment of commercial returns. Air India has been allocated full traffic rights as per their plan, submitted effective Summer 2012 and winter 2012. Traffic rights to private airlines have been given from the balance traffic rights available as per Air Services Agreement of the concerned country.

This information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ajit Singh in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

Tarun Gogoi at ASEAN- INDIA Trade Conclave
Guwahati, Dec 17 (IANS) Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday appealed to Asean nations to have their visa offices here and also asked them for direct flights from this city to that region to boost tourism, trade and commerce.
“Direct flights to Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) airport at Guwahati from these countries would increase the possibilities of enhancement in volume of trade, commerce, investment as well as tourism in the entire northeast region,” Gogoi said, addressing the Asean-India Trade Conclave.

He also appealed to Asean nations to have their visa offices here.

Pointing out to the advantage of being situated very close to Myanmar – the gateway to Asean countries, he said that northeast India, especially Assam has been historically connected to the region through trade and commerce.

“During World War II, Stilwell Road was built connecting India and China through Myanmar. The road still exists, however, due to its bad condition, as well as trade restrictions, the same has been out of use,” he pointed out.

The chief minister also pointed out that Assam’s internal waterways network connecting Bangladesh gives access to the ports of Chittagong, Kolkata and Haldia.

“Both the land and water routes are available to investors for re-export to east and southeast Asia,” he said.

“Assam’s proximity to the SAARC countries of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan would also enable foreign investors to take advantage of the expanding opportunities for regional integration through intra-regional trade under SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA),” Gogoi said.

Gogoi asked Asean nations to use Assam’s key sectors like oil, tea, natural gas, coal, limestone, granite, etc and its unparalleled tourist attractions, including natural parks and wildlife sanctuaries for the mutual benefits of both sides.

KOLKATA: GoAir, that currently operates just two flights out of Kolkata, will introduce three more flights from February as it expands its network in the east next year.

While the airline currently connects Kolkata to Delhi and Port Blair, it will add flights to Ahmedabad, Bagdogra and Guwahati from February 4, 2013. It will operate the brand new sharklet equipped A320 aircraft on these sectors, effecting significant fuel savings.

Flights on the new sectors will have GoBusiness, comprising the first two rows of the aircraft with the middle seat empty and more legroom. GoBusiness is a value driven offer providing hot meals on board, priority boarding privileges and a 40kg baggage allowance. With this launch, GoAir will have more than 100 flights everyday serving 22 destinations across India.

Commenting on the launch of this new sector, the chief executive officer of the carrier, Giorgio De Roni, said, "Kolkata - Bagdogra as well as Kolkata-Guwahati are sectors with immense potential given the number of business and leisure travellers flying in and out of these towns. At GoAir, it's always our endeavour to provide the best fares and most convenient flight options to customers, always on the lookout for new, affordable alternatives." Customers from Kolkata will have direct to and fro flights to Ahmedabad with this new launch."

While the Kolkata-Ahmedabad flight will depart at 5.45pm, the Kolkata-Bagdogra flight will take off at 11.30am and Kolkata-Guwahati at 2.15pm.

GUWAHATI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has invited bids through e-tendering for awarding advertisement rights outside the terminal building at LGBI airport, Guwahati. The total advertising space being offered is 4,903 sq. ft for display of advertisements through hoardings, unipoles, glow signs, pole kiosks, MUPI etc. The contract will be awarded for a period of five years. The minimum reserve license fee is Rs. 5.72 lakh per month, with an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs. 2.50 lakh.
Parties having a minimum of three years experience in the advertisement display business at transportation centers like airports, seaports, railways. Metro rail stations etc. will be eligible for participation.

In addition, parties should have a minimum annual gross turnover (GTO) of Rs. 34.32 lakh in any of the last five financial years, out of which, 50 percent of GTO should be from the advertisement display business only.

Applicants will have to furnish the EMD through RTGS in favour of Airports Authority of India, State Bank of India, Borjhar branch, Guwahati, A/C no. 30854418615, MICR code - 781002013 and IFSC code - SBIN0003776. A scanned copy of the receipt of the payment made has to be uploaded along with the technical bids.

Tender documents indicating full details of the licence will be available online up to 3.30pm of November 29, 2012. Applicants will have to pay the tender document fee of Rs. 15,000 through the payment gateway provided by HFDC.

Duly completed tenders containing technical bids along with the financial bids (separately) should be uploaded online through e-tendering latest by 3pm on November 30, 2012.

Any idea if there are any plans to modernise the airport terminal in the future?

apparently, we are supposed to get a new one (about rs.1000 crores), construction will start this year or maybe next year. but this being northeast, only god can give an estimate
but i do know that new hangers and cargo terminal are under construction

same place according to plan. but i have no idea how they will manage the space because, you know, there is none..
probably they'll have to build another one as in bangalore or hydrabad, since it is a given fact that international flights will increase over the years, if nothing else, atleast due to retail growth, consequently as a gateway (again) and tourist destination

airport will be expanded by acquiring around 343 acers of land and around 1000 cr has been allocated for it in 12th five year plan. construction of hangers should have started by now. they are going to construct a second parallel runway along with a new cargo complex(5 lac sq. ft) and an integrated passenger terminal building.

already traffic is growing in LGBI airport. at around 2 to 4 pm, it gets overcrowded with padssengers.

once KF and paramount airways take its wings, and once international flight services to myanmar and dhaka are launched, there will be heavy traffic in LGBI airport.

airport will be expanded by acquiring around 343 acers of land and around 1000 cr has been allocated for it in 12th five year plan. construction of hangers should have started by now. they are going to construct a second parallel runway along with a new cargo complex(5 lac sq. ft) and an integrated passenger terminal building.

already traffic is growing in LGBI airport. at around 2 to 4 pm, it gets overcrowded with padssengers.

once KF and paramount airways take its wings, and once international flight services to myanmar and dhaka are launched, there will be heavy traffic in LGBI airport.

The centre seriously needs to rationalise duties and surcharge on air travel to bring the sector back on track. I've heard murmurs of Ethihad showing interest in buying a stake in KFA, let's see how that goes. LGBI needs to be upgraded pronto, so I hope the news about the ongoing expansion is true.

I think KF will take its wings soon. it has already submitted its revival plan to DGCA with limited schedule and waiting for clearance. while Paramount too has plans to start its operations soon. it is a madurai based airline.

besides this number of flights have increased from guwahati over last few years(except grounding of KF fleet). last year Spicejet introduced a new daily flight to chennai and goair will be operating a new flight 4th feb onwards.

I think KF will take its wings soon. it has already submitted its revival plan to DGCA with limited schedule and waiting for clearance. while Paramount too has plans to start its operations soon. it is a madurai based airline.

besides this number of flights have increased from guwahati over last few years(except grounding of KF fleet). last year Spicejet introduced a new daily flight to chennai and goair will be operating a new flight 4th feb onwards.

Lenders will avoid KF like the plague, and this will/ has impact/ed the overall aviation industry, even if DGCA approves. Once bitten, twice shy(they are already looking at a massive write-off). No foreign investor will put in 100% equity. You just need to check the records of private airlines across the globe to know that this is a bad business. Doc Mallya, for all his flamboyance, ain't exactly a great businessman. He lobbied to keep import tariffs at ridiculous rates for foreign liquor and ending up selling out to Diageo.